Another week gone by. The days just melt into each other as this lockdown drags on.

Here in South Africa, there is no end in sight, as the body count grows exponentially every day. As does the economic hardship faced by the majority of this country’s population. The economy is tanking as millions of people face unemployment, starvation and small (and large) businesses die, leaving people desperate. This country has a huge informal trading economy which is suffering terribly. This, of course, leads to more crime and mayhem, which was rife before this but now is ballooning.

For me? I’m in a bubble here. I barely leave the house except for a walk and an occasional trip to the grocery store.

However, we (Mick, Debbie and I) went on a mini-safari last Sunday. A local game reserve opened, and we spent the day driving around the reserve, 4-wheeling the dusty, bumpy roads in search of game sightings. What joy small excursions can be. Escaping from the home confines lifted some of the lockdown depression. At least for a while. We saw hippos, lots of impala and other buck, the rhino which are under 24/7 guard, warthogs, zebra and masses of birds. No giraffe-sightings, though. As we picnicked (with non-alcoholic beer) in an aloe garden, we were visited by the warthogs which took one look at us and took off down the hill, tails waving.

At the beginning of next month, I am moving closer to Durban, actually to the town where I grew up. Kloof is about 20-25 minutes from the beach, a few short miles but at a 2,000-foot altitude, which makes for an almost perfect climate. It’s also closer to my old school friends and the Hillcrest Aids Centre, where I hope I can do some volunteer work.

Although I will be living on my own (not always the best thing for me), being in that area, I have more access to activities I can be involved in. So on one hand, I am looking forward to it, but on the other, have misgivings as I am going to miss having people (Mick and Debbie) around and someone to talk to and will have to guard against turning into a hermit.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on the videos and web site for the Aloe Festival which is supposed to go live tomorrow (I have my doubts!) which is interesting, as I haven’t done much video work and I like it, although the editing is tedious. But time is something I have a lot of at the moment.

Earlier this week, I received a very sad message from Maria, who took care of my kitties when I left Washington four years ago. My beloved Hinckley died of old age. Two years ago, Buddy succumbed to cancer, another sad day. But Maria spoiled them even more than I did, giving them a wonderful home. I remember the day like yesterday, when I left them at her home. Even now, the tears well up as I remember the heartbreak. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and I put it off for six years as I battled to keep my house and their home. I went back to see them once, couldn’t bear to go again, but it helped knowing they were loved and cared for.

Today I am going to finish the limoncello process that I started a couple of weeks ago. It’s a very pretty yellow and I think has steeped long enough in the 69-proof rum I found prior to the on-again liquor ban. I’m hoping it will be delicious! And I bought pineapples yesterday and may try to make the very popular pineapple beer, a very South African “thing”.